Two local women who have already shed hundreds of pounds plan to be content with that game plan, rather than face gaining weight.

Here are their stories:

Colette Oldham

Weighing in at 245 pounds, St. Augustine school teacher Colette Oldham has struggled with her weight throughout life.

“I had a few times when I committed to lose weight and was at a normal weight but then I’d gain it all back, adding more pounds each time I stopped dieting,” she said.

Ultimately, she said, she learned that her greatest challenge had been with her mindset in regards to food. “I allowed it to become more than fuel for my body. That contributed to my weight gain and obesity,” she said.

Life has changed for the 53-year-old mother of two grown sons. “I’ve been married for 29 years to a wonderfully supportive man, Jeff. Family and faith are at the center of our lives.”

Realizing she needed to both lose weight and retool her thinking, Oldham said she desperately sought a simple approach that would work with her busy work schedule.

“I didn’t have time to attend meetings for support and guidance. I kept remembering Marie Osmond’s Nutrisystem commercials and how she emphasized the ease and simplicity of the program. I trusted her as a spokesperson.”

So in October 2011, Oldham began the Nutrisystem program and faithfully followed the program for 10 months shedding a total of 100 pounds. Not only had she taken the weight off, but she is keeping it off.

The price for one month’s food and constant access to Nutrisystem’s support was about $300; however, with discounts she ended up paying $50 to $100 less each month.

“It was worth every penny,” Oldham said. “My health is great now that I’m at a normal weight and activity level. I feel and look years younger, too. I have more energy and move without pain. That is huge! I had horrible back and foot pain. As I lost the weight, I soon discovered that these pains were related to my obesity.”

Oldham said the aches and pains disappeared as she approached her ideal body weight.

This past summer she was diagnosed with a rare heart condition after having a mild heart attack. Her doctor assured her that the weight loss had nothing to do with this condition.

“I was so thankful to have taken off most of my weight before this cardiac event. I know my recovery and wellness directly correlate with my healthier weight and activity level at the time of the incident. What a blessing!”

“When once I despised shopping and nothing ever looked that good on me, I now love trying on new clothes. They all look great, forcing me to choose which ones I’ll purchase,” she said. “Tough life, I know!”

As for advice to others, “It’s never too late to make the changes you need to become the you that is crying to come out from inside an unhealthy body. It took one good choice, starting my weight loss program, followed by dozens of daily decisions, to keep applying what I was learning, to see and feel the results.

“I’m worth it, and so are you. Don’t give up on yourself. Your success is just one decision away, one day at a time,” she said.

Mary Simms

Mary Simms never looks back on what was considered a drastic method to lose weight. The mother of seven, who loved to cook for her family, ate her way to a robust 500 pounds and a body that required wearing size 50 clothes. That was in 1984 when she was 38 years old and was developing serious health problems including diabetes.

At the urging of her employer Simms traveled to Gainesville for a consultation with Dr. Alexander MacGregor who was noted for his skills in gastroplasty surgery. At the time the procedure was done by portioning the stomach with staples.

Within two years of the surgery, Simms not only lost hundreds of pounds, but she also accompanied MacGregor on radio talk shows to taunt the success of the surgery. Her photo and story appeared in the June 1989 issue of McCall magazine that featured Princess Diana.

MacGregor and Simms continued as doctor/patient and friends throughout the years.

Simms recalled visiting MacGregor when he was near death in September 2011.

“He looked up at me and smiled, saying, ‘You are my Mona Lisa.’”

Now wearing size 0 clothes with weight that varies between 110 and 115 pounds, the 66-year-old Simms reflects on her lifestyle change and without hesitation, said “I’d do it tomorrow if I needed to.”

She points out, however, that it wasn’t easy. “There’s no magic in it. It takes hard work and follow-through, but, I probably would be dead by now if I hadn’t had the surgery.”

Simms said it doesn’t take much food to fill her up now. She continues to eat healthy foods, has plenty of energy, and doesn’t hesitate to accept an invitation to go to restaurants with family and friends.

“The bonus at restaurants is that the child’s portion is all I need to order,” she said with a chuckle.

Simms, who recently retired from a job with the St. Johns County School Board, now uses her energy to volunteer at nursing homes, area food drives and veterans’ events, and on nice days, enjoys fishing off Vilano Beach.